Maine news, sports, politics and obituaries — Bangor Daily News

‘Put the phone away’: Scenes from the first day of Maine’s new cellphone law

A new Maine law took effect Thursday that prohibits drivers from using their handheld phones for any purpose, whether talking, texting or scrolling through their Instagram feeds. Read More

Despite warning from traffic engineers, Belfast wants to keep its quirky ‘jughandle’

Warm weather may make next week’s moose season a challenge

New Ellsworth bar owner hopes for good vibes at former Chummies

Rockland Harbor’s expanded channel boundaries could limit future development

What you need to know about new Maine laws going into effect today

Maine chief game warden abruptly retires

Lobster with third claw caught off York Harbor

BANGOR METRO

While her classmates went off to college, this John Bapst grad spent a year farming in Europe

“I’ve always been very studious and always thought about my grades and I do love school, but taking a gap year I found out who I was as a person instead of who I was as a student.” Read More

2 hours ago

$300M for new Maine Maritime ship gets Senate committee’s unanimous OK

A bill that would appropriate $300 million for a new training vessel for Maine Maritime Academy has made it out of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, Maine Sen. Susan Collins said Thursday. Read More

Bangor could soon have trucks with robotic arms collecting residents’ trash

Less than a month after Bangor residents began mixing trash and recycling into the same loads of waste that are collected from the curb each week, the city will consider making another major change to the way it handles trash. Read More

JOHN HOLYOKE

This is the best time of year to be an outdoors enthusiast in Maine

Yes, summer’s gone, and as a famous writer once told us, “Winter is coming.” But that’s not a bad thing. Read More

Fire captain who died in Farmington blast followed his father into service

For generations, the Bell family has fought to keep Farmington safe from fires. That dedication came up time and time again as the community worked to make sense of the aftermath of Monday's explosion. Read More

Mobile tiny houses in Maine hit a major roadblock

The modern day nomadic lifestyle hit a roadblock in Maine this past summer when municipalities were notified by the Maine Secretary of State that the Bureau of Motor Vehicles would no longer register, assign vehicle identification numbers to or title tiny homes on wheels. Read More

POLL QUESTION

After 52 years, Dysart’s in Hermon will no longer be open 24 hours a day

As of Oct. 1, those 2 a.m. feasts of french fries and coffee will be a thing of the past. Read More

OPINION

US cruelty toward Dorian’s victims

Right now would be a good moment to criticize Trump's disregard for the plight of those suffering in Dorian's wake, and to express support for a humanitarian response toward our Bahamian neighbors. Read More

EDITORIALS

Let’s borrow ‘Prime Minister’s Questions’ from the U.K.

GEORGE DANBY | EDITORIAL CARTOONIST

NASA funding

3 hours ago

OPINION

Keeping a clunker might no longer make sense

OPINION

Environmental regulators aren’t doing enough to protect Maine citizens from PFAS

OPINION

Corey Lewandowski debuts his Senate campaign theme: Unbridled nastiness

JEFF SOLARI'S SPORTS CHOWDAH

Holding out for a hero in sports? If only we could go back to 1984

By Steve McKay- SportsChowdah.com. “I need a hero….I’m holding out for a hero ’til the end of the night…” Do these lyrics ring a bell? Step into the time machine with me; we’ll set the dial back 35 years, and step into 1984 together. Ghostbusters, the Karate Kid, Indiana Jones,… Read More

25 mins ago

Former UMaine defenseman signs with NHL’s Kings

The wrestling state championships this year come with a new event

After 2 concussions, this UMaine hockey player is back on the ice

Bangor hosts successful Scarborough amid Friday’s busy football schedule

Eduardo Rodriguez, Red Sox beat Giants 5-4 to avoid sweep

Colt suspends production of AR-15 for civilian market, citing ‘excessive manufacturing capacity’

Colt’s Manufacturing Co. is suspending production of rifles for the civilian market, including the popular AR-15 used in fatal mass shootings and that figures prominently in a national debate between advocates for gun rights and gun control. Read More

North America has lost 3 billion birds in 50 years

In turnaround, Mitch McConnell backs $250 million in election security funding

‘It’s bad’: Hundreds of water rescues as Imelda soaks Texas

Mass. parole board weighs release of woman who urged her boyfriend to commit suicide

Man who robbed 3 Mass. doughnut shops sentenced to up to 13 years

Fall Fest at Hirundo to include archery, fungi foraging and full day activities

OLD TOWN — Hirundo Wildlife Refuge will hold its Fall Fest weekend Sept. 21-22 at 1107 West Old Town Road. Celebrate the fall with a weekend of paddling, shopping nature made and inspired art, exploring the refuge on foot or in canoe, visiting with live Owls up close, sipping and… Read More

THE WEEKLY QUESTION